Practical Completion Defects Inspection

CRITICAL FINAL INSPECTION FOR HAND-OVER

This critical final inspection for your building project requires knowledge, expertise, and a keen eye for detail.  Build Assure Consultants can be your expert eyes for this critical inspection to help you identify defects to be discussed with your builder prior to ‘Hand Over’.  New Constructions (Renovations and New Builds) require a walk-through Practical Completion Inspection with the builder/site supervisor and the client to inspect the builder’s work. The aim of this contractual requirement is for the client to inspect all components of the building works to identify and note any non-compliant, defective, omitted or incomplete work, which requires rectifying prior to ‘practical completion’. ‘Practical completion’ means when the building works are complete except for minor omissions and defects that do not prevent the building works from being reasonably capable of being used for their usual purpose.

A Practical Completion inspection includes all specified building aspects in the approved plans to ensure that all works are completed to meet the NCC and NSW Standards and Tolerances.

HOW WE CAN HELP YOU…

Build Assure will carry out a Practical Completion Inspection to identify major defects, incomplete works and general defects that the builder will need to rectify.  Our building knowledge and experience allows us to be your expert eyes, thoroughly inspecting the construction works, including hard to reach areas that are not easily visible to clients, such as the roof and roof flashing details.  We will provide you with a comprehensive report and discuss areas of concern with you and your builder, ascertaining defects or omissions that will impede practical completion and handover. 

You will be provided a detailed report to pass on to your builder, which details specific areas of non-compliance, defective or substandard workmanship. Once issued our inspection report, the builder will have 10-days to rectify issues.

Once defects have been rectified and you are satisfied that the building works have reached practical completion, final payment can be made, and you will gain possession of your home at Hand Over. The Defects Liability Period will begin from the date of practical completion, during which clients will maintain a list of any outstanding defects from our Build Assure report and add any new issues that may arise. Our inspection report will serve as a checklist to record any outstanding defects that didn’t impede ‘practical completion’ to occur, but still need to be rectified by the builder.

Some clients opt for the Practical Completion and Defects Inspection at the end of a build and forego New Construction Staged Inspections during the building process. However, it’s important to consider and keep in mind that once construction reaches completion, the structural components are covered up and it is unknown whether they have been installed correctly and within acceptable tolerances.   New Construction Stage Inspections in conjunction with the final Practical Completion and Defects Inspection is recommended as it provides the most assurance.